Delinquency indicator of flyback type



Jan. 9, 1934- R M. K N 1,942,814

DELINQUENCY INDICATOR OF FLYBACK TYPE Filed June 21, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet1 Fig.1.

Jan. 9, 1934. R M- op ms 1,942,814

DELINQUENCY INDICATOR OF FLYBACK TYPE Filed June 21, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet2 I, I: I I I I uh; w {a t \"L, g a 3 w 3 {1' N G a Jan. 9, 1934.

DELINQUENCY INDICATOR OF FLYBACK TYPE R. M. HOPKINS Filed June 21, 19303 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Patented Jan. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE Richard M. Hopkins, Rutherford, N. J., assignor to AmericanDistrict Telegraph Company, Jersey City, N. J., a corporation of NewJersey Application June 21, 1930. Serial No. 462,827

18 Claims.

This invention relates to delinquency indicators, and is intendedprimarily for use in connection with night-watchman supervisory systemsof the kind in which signals are sent to a distant or local central orhead Watchmans oifice, the function of such indicators .being to sound asignal device in case the watchman does not start his rounds within apredetermined period t time or permits more than a predetermined periodof time to elapse between rounds or between signals sent from watchmansstations.

It is noted, however, that the invention is not limited to delinquencyor signal devices or to electrical devices.

One object of the invention is to provide a conveniently operatedelectrical apparatus of this kind suitable for operation from time clocksystems and for installation in connection with signal systems alreadyin use.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which may bemade up wholly or in part of stock parts already on the market.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this kindwhich is adjustable for periods of different length.

Other objects of the invention are to improve generally the simplicityand efficiency of such apparatus and to provide a device or apparatus ofthis kind which is economical, durable and reliable in operation, andeconomical to manufacture.

Still other objects of the invention will appear as the descriptionproceeds; and while herein details of the invention are described andclaimed, the invention is not limited to these, since many and variouschanges may be made without departing from the scopeof the invention asclaimed in the broader claims.

The inventive features for the accomplishment of these and other objectsare shown here in connection with an improved delinquency signalapparatus, which, briefly stated, includes a primary selector comprisingmeans whereby a primary arm is continually slowly advanced by steps toits limit of movement and then automatically restored; a means toautomatically advance a secondary arm a step each time said primary armsubstantially reaches said limit; and a signal device automaticallyoperated each time both arms have reached certain respectivepredetermined points of their travel.

Reset means automatically restore both arms after said signal device isoperated; but a watchmans transmitting station is provided for at willoperating the reset means to restore both arms before the signal deviceis operated, thereby to prevent the signal.

While in this specification and claims mention is made of delinquencyalarms, signal devices and contact arms and it is stated that one part69 is moved relative to the other rather than vice versa, it isunderstood that this is for designation and description and that forpurposes of protection the language is to be construed broadly enough tocover other equivalent means and devices in other relative arrangements,and in general all terms of the claims are to be given broadinterpretation when necessary for purposes of protection.

In the accompanying drawings showing, by way of example, two of manypossible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a diagram of one form of apparatus; Fig. 2 is a side elevationof the primary selector; and Fig. 3 is a diagram of another form ofapparatus.

The parts of the apparatus of Fig. 1 and their functions will first bevery briefly indicated after which the parts will be described indetail.

The apparatus comprises a bank of spacedprimary contacts 26 to 30, aprimary contact arm 33 successively engageable with said contacts, andmeans 10, 17, 21, 22, 35 (Fig. 2) 3'7, 32 whereby said member isadvanced, in the direction of the arrow, one contact every minute, untilthe arm 33 reaches the contact 30 and is restored by means 43, .47, 48.

An actuating switch 52 is closed by a member 50 before the last contact30 is reached; and this actuates means 55 in circuit with said switch,which serve, each time said switch is closed, to advance a secondary arm63 one contact along a secondary bank of contacts 60, 61, 62. Thus thecontact arm 63 is moved one contact each time the arm 33 makes acomplete excursion of ten minutes duration.

The apparatus also comprises a normally deenergized reset relay '75including a reset solenoid 102 and a normally closed switch 77, '78;means 84 electrically connecting adjacent intermediate primary contacts27 to provide a group of signal contacts, andsignal circuit means 80,81, 82, 86, 85 connecting, in series circuit, said normally closedswitch '77, 78, the secondary arm 63 and a predetermined secondarycontact 61 when by the secondary arm, a signal alarm device 87, and saidgroup when engaged by said arm 33, whereby current may pass through andoperate the signal alarm device 87.

A looking-in relay 90 is locked-in when the contact 61 is engaged andthe normally closed switch is closed; and a switch 98, 99 is closed bysaid locking-in relay so that when the primary con tact 28 next abovesaid group is engaged by primary arm after the signal device isoperated, current may pass through conductors 80, 102, 101, 100, members98, 99, conductor 104 and arm 33 to energize the reset relay 102 tocause it to close the switch '77, 71 to energize reset coil 65 andrestore the secondary arm 63 and release the locking-in relay 90. At thesame time, the switch 107, 108 closed by the reset relay 75 causescurrent through the coil 43t0 restore the primary arm 33. ihe watchmansstation 120 provides means for at will energizing the relay 75 torestore both arms 33, 63 by the operation of the relay 75 as justexplained.

Now the apparatus will be described in detail.

Step-by-step mechanism The improved delinquency alarm apparatus is shownas operated from. a source of current having a grounded terminal 11 andan ungrounded terminal 12.

A primary step-by-step selector mechanism comprises an advance magnet 16(Fig. 2) having an advance coil 1'7 connected by conductors 18, 19, 20in series with a normally open, periodically closed switch 21 betweensaid Lin-grounded terminal 12 and a ground 22, whereby when said contactswitch is closed the advance magnet is energized. The switch 21 isconventionally shown as provided with a closing means 24 which may becontrolled by the master clock of a time clock system.

Primaryselector 4 engaged from said ratchet, whereby when said contactarm is moved from one contact to the next each time said magnet isenergized. The pawl 37 is pressed toward the ratchet by spring 39 exceptwhen the arm 40 carried by the K pawl is engaged by the lug 41 carriedby the frame 42.

Primary reset means A primary reset magnet coil 43 of the magnet 44 isconnected by conductors 18, 45 in series between said last primarycontact 30 and the ungrounded terminal 12 whereby when the last contact30 is engaged by the arm 33, current passes through the reset coil'43,conductor 45 and said arm 33 to a ground 46 and energizes the reset coil43.

A pivoted armature 47 attracted by the reset magnet 44 carries a detentpawl 48, and is adapt" ed to disengage the latter from the ratchet 32 tocause the arm to fly back under the action of a spring 49 to zeroposition.

Secondary selector actuating switch An actuating arm 50 carried withsaid contact arm 33 carries an insulating head 51 engageable Secondaryselector switch Said coil 55 is a part of a secondary selector switch58, similar to that of Fig. 2. Said secondary switch comp a shaft 59rotatable coaxially with an arcuately arranged bank of insulated closelyspaced secondary selector switch contacts 68, 61, 52. Said shaft carriesa ratchet and a contact arm 63 as in Fig. 2, the arm being engageablewith said contacts 60, 61, 62. A pivarmature is attracted by saidadvance magnet when the coil 55 is energized, carries an operating armcarrying a pivotal pawl, engageable with, normally disengaged from saidratchet, whereby said contact is moved from one contact to the next eachtime said magnet is energized.

ote

Secondary reset means A spring tends to restore the contact arm; and adetent pawl engaging the ratchet and normally holds the arms againstretrograde movement, in the same manner as is shown in Fig. 2.

A secondary reset magnet coil 65 associated with the secondary bank andhas one end connected by a conductor 56 to the ground 56 and the otherend connected by a conductor '70 to said normally unengaged contact '71later to be described.

An armature attracted secondary reset magnet similar to the magnet 44carries to the secondary detent, whereby when said reset and secondarymagnets are energized, the secondary arm is released and restored.

Reset relay A reset relay comprises an electro-magnet '76, an armatureand a double throw switch '71, '77, 78 controlled by said armature andhaving a movable element '77 and a normally engaged contact 'YSand anormally disengaged contact '71, the movable element '77 being connectedby a conductor 80, to said ungrounded terminal 12, Conductors 81, 82connect the normally engaged contact '78 to the secondary arm 63,whereby the secondary arm is normally charged.

The signal alarm circuit Conductors 84 connect together a group ofintermediate contacts 27 of the primary bank to form signal contacts;and signal conductors 85, 86 connect a hell or other signal device 87 inseries between said group and a predetermined signal contact 61 of thesecondary bank, whereby when the primary arm is being stepped up and thearms respectively engage one of said group 2'7 and the signal contact61, current passes through the conductor 80, the element '77, saidnormally engaged contact 73, conductor 81, the secondary arm 63,conductor 86, said signal device 87 conductor 85, one of said group 27,27, the primary arm 33 and ground 46, thus sounding the alarm so long asone of said group 2'7, 27 is engaged by the primary arm. Obviously theinvention is not limited to a single signal device.

Locking-m relay A locking-in relay 90 has one end of its magnet coil 91grounded as at 92, and the other end connected as at 93 to said alarmcircuit, whereby the coil 91 becomes energized when the arm 63 engagesthe contact 61. When the magnet coil 91 is energized, an armature 95 isattracted, closing the normally open locking-in switch 96, thuspermitting current to flow through conductors 80, 81, the switch 96,conductor 86, coil 91 and ground 92 to lock-in the switch 96 and alsothe reset switch 98, 99,

Automatic reset means The reset switch 98, 99 has one element 99connected by conductors 100, 101 to the reset coil 102 of the relay '75and the other element 98 connected by a conductor 104 to the primarybank contact 28 next above said group 27, whereby when the primary armreaches such contact 28, the reset relay coil 102 is energized, thearmature 105 is attracted and the movable element 77 of the double throwswitch is engaged with said normally unengag'ed contact '71 thuspermitting current to flow through conductor 81, switch elements 77, 71,conductor 70, reset coil 65 and ground 56, to restore the secondary arm63.

At the same time, a primary reset switch 107, 108 is closed by saidreset relay. This switch has one element 166 grounded as at 169, theother element 107 being operated by the armature 105 and connected byconductors 110, 45 to the end of the primary reset coil 13 remote fromthe battery, whereby when the reset relay coil 102 is energized, currentpasses through conductor 18, coil 43, conductors 45, 110, switch 107,108 and ground 109, and the primary arm is restored.

Watchmans transmitting station If the watchman is properly in attendancehe will prevent the sounding of the signal device 87, by operating awatchmans station 120 comprising signal transmitter having a normallyclosed signal-wheel-operated switch 121, 122, 123 having an element 122connected through conductors 124, 125 and solenoids 126 to saidungrounded current-source terminal 12, and the other element 123grounded as at 127 through conductors 128, 129 and solenoids 130.

A pair of relays 131, 132 have their solenoids interposed in circuitwith said switch as just explained, the relay 131 controlling a distantalarm or central station signal, the other relay 132 comprising anormally open switch 135 adapted to be closed when the relay magnet isdeenergized and having its elements respectively grounded as at 127 andconnected by the conductor 101 to said reset relay coil 102, wherebywhen the station 120 is operated the reset relay coil 102 is energizedand said primary and secondary reset coils 43 and 65 energized and theprimary and secondary arms 33,

63 restored, as above explained.

Obviously any number of stations 120 may be used.

The operation of the apparatus The apparatus, as explained previously,is arranged to be operated from a master clock sending out minuteimpulses which operate the contact device 21, and if the watchman failsto operate the station 120, an alarm will be sounded after a certainpredetermined period. If, how

ever, the watchman operates a station within this predetermined period,the delinquency indicator is automatically restored to its normalcondition and will not be permitted to reach the alarm position as longas these boxes are pulled within the designated period.

The operation of the minute impulse 24 closes the switch 21 energizingthe advance coil 17 0f the primary selector, the circuit being throughterminal 12 of the current source to the ground 22. Each time this coil17 is energized, the primary contact arm 33 is advanced one step. Afterthe arm 33 is advanced ten, for instance, steps, the head 51 closes theswitch 52'which energizes secondary' advance coil advancing thesecondary arm 63 one step. It will be noted that the head 51 closes theswitch 52 before the arm 33 reaches the contact 30. This is to make surethat the coil 55 shall operate the arm 63 before the circuit 18, 13, 45,33, 46 which is made through the conact 30 and arm 33 operates resetcoil 43 to release the pawl l8 and cause the arm 33 to fly back to itsinitial position.

As shown in the drawings, it will be noted that the contact 61 of thesecondary selector is engaged after the arm 63 has made seven steps.This contact 61 is connected through conductors 84, 65, 86 and thesignal device 8'7 to thegroup or" contacts 27 of the primary selector.This contact 61 is also connected by the'conductor 86 to the coil 91 ofthe relay 90, which will lock in by the closing of the switch 96, afterthe relay 90 has been energized as the arm 63 contacts said contact 61.

In view of the above it will be noted that the arm 33 advances onecontact every minute, and that the arm 63 therefore advances one contactevery ten minutes, and will reach the contact 61 after an interval ofseventy minutes. Of course, the primary and secondary banks could havemore or fewer contacts, or conductors 45, 85, 86 and 104 could beconnected to other contacts, thus giving an entirely different interval.However, as shown, after this seventy minute period four more minuteimpulses transmitted to arm 33 will then complete the signal circuit,which may be traced from the terminal through conductor 80, relaycontacts'l'l, 78, conductors 81, 82, arm 63, conductor 86, signal device87, conductor 85, contacts 84, arm 33, to ground 46. This would causethe signal device 87 to 'sound for a period of five minutes if, asshown, five contacts 27 are grouped.

When the arm 33 moves from contact 27 to contact 28 it opens the circuitto the signal device and closes the circuit which may be traced fromground 46, through arm 33 contact 28, conductor 104, switch elements 93,9e, conductors 1'00, 101, coil 102, conductor 80, to current-source 12,to ground. This energizes reset relay 75, closing switch 107, 108 andtransposing switch element 77. This makes a circuit from current sourcethrough conductor 80, element 77, contact 71, conductor 70, reset coilto ground 56, which restores the arm 63 to initial position, and breaksthe circuit, which, through switch elements 77, 78,

conductor 81 and switch 96 kept the relay energized. A circuit through107, 108 may now be traced from ground 109, through conductors 110, 45,reset coil 43, conductor 18, current-source to ground 11, thus restoringthe arm 33 to its initial position.

Should the watchmans station 120 be operated before the predeterminedalarm period, a circuit will be established from the current-sourcethrough conductor 80, coil 102, switch 135 to ground reset relay 132,thus energizing reset relay '75, causing a circuit from current-source12, through switch elements 77, 71, conductor 70, reset coil 65 toground 56, thus restoring arm 63 to its initial position. Anothercircuit through switch 107, 103 will energize reset coil 43 and restorecontact arm 33 of the primary selector to its initial position.

The apparatus of Fig. 3

Under the certain circumstances, the relays 75 and are not necessary,in. which case the simplified form of apparatus of Fig. 3 may be used.

In this case the primary and secondary selectors are substantiallyalike, the switch 52 being omitted entirely.

In the form of Fig. 3 parts 10 to 48 are substantially the same as inFigs. 1 and 2; but the secondary advance magnet 55 is connected byconductors 125, 140, 141 in series between the ungrounded terminal andthe next to the last prmary contact 29, whereby the magnet 55 isenergized once, and the secondary arm 63, engageable with contacts 60,61, is advanced, every time the contact 29 is engaged.

The conductor 18 and the primary reset conductor 45 connect the primerreset magnet 43 in series between said ungrounded terminal 12 and thelast primary contact 30, whereby the primary arm 33 is restored eachtime the contact 30 is engaged.

Conductors 125, 143 connect said ungrounded terminal 12 to the secondaryarm 63, whereby when the secondary arm engages the contact 51 and theprimary arm engages one of the contacts 27, current passes through thesignal circuit comprising conductors 84, 35, 86 connecting the signaldevice 87 in a series between the group of intermediate primary signalcontacts 27 and the predetermined secondary signal contact 61.

A secondary reset conductor 145 connects the secondary contact 62 nextabove said secondary signal contact 61 to one end of the solenoid of thereset magnet 65, the other solenoid end being grounded as at 146,whereby when the arm 63 engages the contact 62 the secondary arm isrestored.

The watchmans station 120 is about the same as in Figs. 1 and 2, and theswitch 135 thereof is closed by the relay 132 and is connected byconductors 101, 129 in circuit between the primary and secondary resetconductors 45, 125 to energize both reset magnets 43, 65, when thewatchmans station is operated.

Operation of the apparatus of Fig. 3

The operation of the apparatus of Fig. 3 is obvious from the foregoing.

The primary arm 33 is stepped up once each time the switch 21 is closed,until it engages contact 29, whereupon current passes through 12, 125,146, 55, 145, 29, 33 and ground 46, thus stepping up the secondary arm63 one step.

On the next closure of the switch 21, the arm 33 reaches the contact 30,and current passes through 18, 43, 45, 30, 33 to ground 46, andenergizes 43 and resets the arm 33.

The secondary arm is stepped up once each time the contact 29 is engagedand finally reaches contact 61. Then when the primary arm next reachesone of the group 84, current passes through 12, 125, 143, 63, 61, 86,8'7, 85, 84, 27, 33 and ground 46, and the alarm device 37 rings untilthe arm 33 passes the last contact 2'7.

Next the arm 33 reaches contact 29 and steps the secondary arm 63 fromcontact 61 to 62. When the arm 63 reaches contact 62, solenoid 65 isenergized and resets the secondary arm as soon as the advance pawlreleases it. Next the arm 33 reaches the contact 30 and resets.

If the watchmans station is pulled, current passes through 12, 125, 120,135, 129', closing the switch 135. This causes current to pass through12, 18, 43, 45, 129, 135, 101, 145, 65 to ground 146, energizing magnets43 and 65, restoring both arms 33 and 63.

I claim as my invention:

1. An apparatus comprising a primary member; means whereby said memberis advanced to a predetermined position and restored; a secondarymember; means to advance the secondary member a small increment eachtime said primary member substantially reaches said position; atranslating device; means for operating said device each time bothmembers reach respective predetermined points; means to automaticallyrestore both members when said device is operated; and means for at willrestoring both members.

2. An apparatus comprising a primary member; means whereby said memberis advanced to a predetermined limit and restored; a secondary member;means to advance the secondary member a small increment each time saidprimary member substantially reaches said limit; a translating device;means for operating said device each time both members reachpredetermined points; 1.. cans to automatically restore both memberswhen said device is operated.

An apparatus comprising a primary memoer; means whereby said member isadvanced to a predetermined position and restored; a secondary member;me he to advance the secondary member a small increment each time saidprimary member substantially reaches said position; a translatingdevice; means for operating said device each time both members reachpredetermined points; and means for at will restoring both members.

4. An apparatus comprising a primary arm; means whereby said is slowlyadvanced to a limit; a secondary arm; means to advance the secondary arma step each time said primary arm substantially reaches said limit; asignal device;

means for operating said device each time both fl,-

arms have reached respective predetermined points of their travel;restoring means to automatically restore the primary arm each time itreaches the end of its travel; means automatically operable to restoreboth arms after said device operated; and means for at will restoringboth arms before or during operation of the device.

5. An apparatus comprising a movable member; means operable by electricimpulses whereby said member is slowly advanced step-by-step; means forsupplying such impulses; a translating device set in operation by saidmember after the member has moved a predetermined distance; reset meansautomatically set in operation after said device is operated to restorethe member to initial position; and means for at will operating thereset means.

6. An apparatus comprising a bank of spaced primary contacts; a primarycontact member successively engageable with said contacts; means wherebysaid member is periodically advanced one contact; an actuating switchclosed by said member before the last contact is reached; a secondarybank of contacts; a secondary arm engageable with said contacts; meansin circuit with said switch to advance the secondary one contact eachtime said switch is closed; means electrically connecting adjacentintermediate prima y contacts to provide a group of signal contacts; asignal device; and signal circuit means connecting, in series circuit,said normally closed switch, the secondary arm, a predeterminedsecondary contact when engaged by said arm, said signal device, andgroup when engaged by said member, whereby current pass through and ocrate the signal devic 'I. An apparatus comprising a movable primarycontact member; means whereby said memher is normally slowly advanced,and restored; a movable secondary member; means to advance the secondarymember one each time said primary member substantially reaches end ofits movement; a normally deenergized reset relay; a signal contactengageable by the primary member intcrmediately of its travel; a signaldevice; a secondary contact; means for op rating said signal device whensaid secondary and signal contacts are engaged by said members and saidrelay is deenergized; means automatically operable to energize the resetrelay after the signal device has been operat d; means operable by threset relay when energ zed to restore both arms; and means for at willenergizing the reset relay.

8. An apparatus comprising a primary arm; means whereby said arm isslowly advanced to a limit; a secondary arm; means to advance thesecondary arm a step each time said primary arm substantially reachessaid limit; a signal device; means for operating said device each timeboth arms have reached respective predetermined points of their travel;restoring means to automatically restore the primary arm each time itreaches the end of its travel; reset means automatically operable torestore both arms after said device is operated; and means for at willoperating the reset means to restore both arms.

9. An apparatus comprising a movable primary contact member; meanswhereby said member is normally slowly advanced; a movable secondarymember; means to advance the secondary mem her one each time saidprimary member substantially reaches end of its movement; a normallydeenergized reset relay; signal contact engageable by the primary memberintermediately of its travel; a signal device; a secondary contact;means for operating said signal device when said secondary and signalcontacts are engaged by said member and said. relay is deenergized; alocking-in relay; means to lock-in the locking-in relay when the signalis operated; means operable by said locking-in relay to energize thereset relay after the signal device has been operated; means operable bythe reset relay when energized to restore the secondary arm and releasethe locking-in relay; means operable by said member when at the end ofits travel or by the reset relay when energized to restore the primaryarm; and means for at will energizing the reset relay to restore botharms.

10. An apparatus comprising a bank of spaced primary contacts; a primarycontact member successively engageable with said contacts; means wherebysaid member is periodically advanced one contact; an actuating switchclosed by said member before the last contact is reached; a secondarybank or" contacts; a secondary arm engageable with said contacts; meansin circuit with said switch to advance the secondary arm one contacteach time said switch is closed; a

normally deenergized reset relay including a reset solenoid, and anormally closed switch; means electrically connecting adjacentintermediate primary contacts to provide a group-0f signal contacts; asignal device; signal circuit means connecting, in series circuit, saidnormally closed switch, the secondary arm and a predetermined secondarycontact when interengaged, said signal device, and said group whenengaged by said member, whereby current may pass through and operate thesignal device; a locking-in relay; means to lock in the locking in relaywhen the signal is operated and the normally closed switch is closed;means operable by said locking-in relay to energize the reset relay whenthe primary Contact next above said group is engaged by the primarymember; means operable by the reset relay when energized to restore thesecondary arm and release the locking-in relay; means operable by saidmember when engaging the last contact; or by the reset relay whenenergized to restore the primary arm; and means for at will energizingthe reset relay to restore both arms.

11. A deliquency alarm apparatus comprising a source or" current havinga grounded and an ungrounded terminal; a normally open minute con tactswitch; means for closing said switch periodically; a step-by-stepselector mechanism comprising an advance magnet having an advance coilconnected in series with said switch between said ungrounded terminaland the ground, whereby when said contact switch is closed the advancemagnet is energized; an arcuatcly arranged bank of insulated closelyspaced primary selector switch contacts; a rotatable shaft coaxial withsaid bank; a ratchet and a grounded contact arm, fast on said shaft; thearm engageable with said contacts; a pivoted armature attracted by saidadvance magnet and carrying an operating arm carrying a pivoted pawl,engageable with, and normally disengaged from said ratchet whereby saidcontact arms are moved from one contact to the next each time saidmagnet is energized; and signal means constructed to be connected incircuit with said arm and a predetermined contact of the bank for attimes operating the signal when such contact is engaged by the arm.

12. An apparatus comprising an arm; means whereby said arm is slowlyadvanced; a signal device; means for operating said device each timesaid arm reaches a predetermined point of its travel; reset meansautomatically operable to restore the arm when the signal is operated;means including an electro-magnet for operating said reset means whenthe magnet is energized; a watchmans station comprising signaltransmitter having a normally closed signal wheel operated switch; arelay having its solenoid interposed in circuit with said switch andcomprising a normally open switch adapted to be closed when the relaymagnet is deenergized and having its elements respectively connected incircuit with said electro-magnet whereby when the station is operatedthe magnet is energized and said arm restored.

13. An apparatus comprising a bank of spaced primary contacts includingintermediate signal contact or contacts, and a secondary-advance contactnear the end of the bank; a primary contact member engageable with saidcontacts; means whereby said member is at intervals advanced onecontact; a secondary advance magnet connected in circuit with saidadvance contact;

a secondary bank of contacts including an intermediate signal contact; asecondary contact member engageable with the secondary contacts; meansto advance the secondary member one contact each time the secondarymagnet is energized; a signal device; and a signal circuit meansconnecting the signal device in a series between the primary andsecondary signal contacts when engaged by the respective contactmembers.

14. An apparatus comprising a bank of spaced primary contacts includingintermediate signal contact or contacts, a reset contact near the end ofthe bank and a secondary-advance contact between the signal and resetcontacts; a primary contact member engageable with said contacts; meanswhereby said member is at intervals advanced one contact; means torestore the primary member including a primary reset magnet in circuitwith the primary reset contact; a secondary advance magnet connected incircuit with said advance contact; a secondary bank of contactsincluding an intermediate signal contact, and a reset contact nearer theend of the bank; a

. secondary contact member engageable with the secondary contacts; meansto advance the secondary contact member one contact each time thesecondary magnet is energized; a signal device; a signal circuit meansconnecting the signal device in a series between the primary secondarysignal contacts when engaged by the respective arms; means including asecondary reset magnet to restore the secondary member; a secondaryreset circuit means connecting in series circuit the secondary resetcontact and magnet; and means for at will connecting the reset magnetsin series circuit.

15. An apparatus comprising a circuit having primary spaced contacts, amovable arm therefor, means including an electromagnet for advancingsaid arm step-by-step over said contacts, means for returning said arm;secondary spaced contacts, another movable arm for said latter contacts,and means including a relay for advancing said second arm one stepprevious to the re turn of said first arm each time said first armreaches a predetermined contact.

16. An apparatus comprising an electric circuit a bank of spaced primarycontacts, a pivot, an arm mounted on said pivot for step-by-step advancemovement over said contacts to a predetermined position, means wherebysaid arm is advanced to said position and returned; a bank of secondaryspaced contacts, a second pivot, another arm mounted on said latterpivot, and means for advancing said second arm one step over itscontacts each time said first arm reaches said position.

17. An apparatus comprising in combination an electric circuit having abank of spaced contacts, a pivot, an arm mounted on said pivot forstepby-step advance movement over said contacts, means for advancingsaid arm, said means ineluding a ratchet rigid with said arm, a pawlengaging said ratchet, an armature carrying said pawl, an impulseoperated means controlling the electric circuit, a magnet for actuatingsaid armature, a releasable detent for holding said ratchet after eachactuation, means for releasing said detent after the advance movement,and a spring cooperating with said ratchet to return said arm.

18. An appare us comprising an electric circuit having a p i iary bankof contacts, a secondary bank'of contacts, a movable arm for the firstbank, a movable arm for the second bank, an alarm in the circuit,unitary time operated means for closing and opening the circuit wherebyto continuously advance the first mentioned arm step-by-step to the lastcontact of its bank, means for repeatedly restoring the last mentionedarm to its initial position, means for advancing the second mentionedarm a single step each time the first mentioned arm reaches. its lastcontact, and

means for operating said alarm each time the sec- 0nd mentioned armreaches a predete mined contact.

RICHARD M. HOPKINS.

